Minister M Saravanan said of the total, 77,848 applications were for workers in the manufacturing sector, followed by the plantation (13,119), service (10,611), construction (8,530), and agriculture (1,699) fields.

“I do not deny that at the early stage, when the applications were opened, some employers had problems applying online.

“This was due to the high number of applications since the entry of foreign workers had been stopped temporarily since March 2020 following the implementation of the first movement control order,” he said in a statement here today.

Apart from that, Saravanan said, employers were allowed to apply through the Private Sector Employment Agency (APS), which previously only allowed applications for domestic maids.

“During a meeting with employers and the associations recently, I was informed about the problems and that they have used the services of APS for the purpose.

“Therefore, APS can apply on behalf of the employers with the condition that the applications are submitted with the knowledge and permission of the employers concerned,” he said.

On Dec 10, Saravanan was reported to have said that Malaysia was facing a critical shortage of workers in the five 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) fields, mainly in the plantation, manufacturing, development, agriculture and service sectors, because of poor response from Malaysian workers.

Before that, the government had announced that the entry of foreign workers must comply with the SOPs for the entry of workers, approved by the Covid-19 Quartet Ministers Meeting on Dec 14, 2021.

The SOPs cover pre-departure, upon arrival and after arrival.